Core Insights - A global study by IBM Institute for Business Value indicates that enterprise data strategies are evolving rapidly as organizations aim to scale AI, but many Chief Data Officers (CDOs) feel their data is not ready to fully leverage AI's potential [1][2]. Group 1: Data Strategy and AI Readiness - 81% of surveyed CDOs report their organization's data strategy is integrated with technology roadmap and infrastructure investments, a significant increase from 52% in 2023 [2]. - Only 26% of CDOs are confident that their data can support new AI-enabled revenue streams, highlighting a gap between AI ambitions and actual readiness [2][8]. - Barriers such as data accessibility, completeness, integrity, accuracy, and consistency hinder organizations from fully utilizing enterprise data for AI [2][3]. Group 2: Role of Chief Data Officers - The role of CDOs is shifting from data custodians to business strategists, with a focus on proving data's value [4][8]. - 92% of CDOs believe they must focus on business outcomes to succeed, yet only one-third can clearly convey how data facilitates business results [8]. - Deploying data for competitive advantage is now the top priority for CDOs, surpassing governance and security responsibilities [8]. Group 3: Investment and Talent Challenges - 81% of CDOs prioritize investments that accelerate AI capabilities, while 78% see leveraging proprietary data as a key strategic objective [7][8]. - Nearly half of the respondents identify advanced data skills as a top challenge, an increase from 32% in 2023 [7][8]. - 77% of leaders struggle to fill key data roles, and only 53% believe their recruitment efforts yield the necessary skills and experience, down from 75% in 2024 [8]. Group 4: Data-Driven Culture and Democratization - 82% of CDOs assert that data is wasted if not accessible to people, and 80% believe data democratization accelerates organizational speed [8]. - 74% of respondents promote a culture of data stewardship, yet fostering a data-driven culture remains a significant challenge [8]. - 83% of respondents believe the benefits of deploying AI agents outweigh the risks, with 77% comfortable relying on AI outcomes [8].